Newbie

I'm planning to add a surface plate to my shop. I'm curious about temperature effect on the plate. I'm in North Dakota, my shop is my unheated garage. Maybe I'm missing something, but what I've been reading understand as the temperature extremes that are in my shop will basically destroy the surface plate. Am I missing something? The shop I used to work in wasn't very well temperature controlled, and the surface plate there seemed to be fine, but then again, I didn't need to use it very often. Ideas? Recommendations?

John York

The temperature will not hurt them, but possibly it may not be as accurate in terms of flatness or overall tolerences; in a hobby shop, it does not matter, I don't think you could tell any difference in ordinary work. You do not state whether or not you are talking granite or cast iron, if iron, you'd want to keep it oiled to prevent rust, I use a very oily rag under a wood cover on mine.

My experiences are a bit different. Last year I was in the market for a 24"x36" surface plate. I looked at both cast iron and granite models. In most cases the cast iron models were heavier. I ended up purchasing a 24"x36" Challenge brand plate. It weighs in at 475 lbs. The same size granite ones were between 410 lbs. and 440 lbs.